Treñas backs probe on Firmeza's attempt to bribe Pesina
City Mayor Jerry Treñas agreed to have Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (Icupao) chair Roy Firmeza investigated upon his return from China relative to the allegation of City Councilor Antonio Pesina that he attempted to bribe the latter.
Treñas did not elaborate on who should conduct the investigation but said the conflict between Pesina and Firmeza is a separate matter that should be answered by both parties.
Pesina alleged that Firmeza offered him P50,000 for the immediate sale of 1.6 hectares property of Rogelio Tarrosa in Barangay Lanit, Jaro. His allegation came out after urban poor groups asked for his ouster as chair of the committee on urban poor, human rights and minority group.
Treñas said he will allow Firmeza to attend the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod as soon as he returns from his China trip for the urban poor summit.
In last week's regular session, the legislative body approved a resolution asking Firmeza to appear before the council and shed light on the alleged bribe attempt on Councilor Pesina.
The resolution also seeks answers on the continued refusal of the Icupao to provide the body the master list of the beneficiaries in the different relocation sites and its corresponding documents.
For a long time, the members of the city council have been asking for a copy of the master list of the beneficiaries in the different relocation sites from Firmeza. Aside from the relocation sites, the city government has also onsite or slum upgrading and socialized housing zones projects.
Meanwhile, Treñas will meet today with the leaders of three urban poor associations, namely, Benfred Tacuyan, president of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Federation Inc; Belen Peñaflor, president of the KABALAKA/Homeless Peoples Federation of the Philippines Inc. and Paterno Licuran, president of the Iloilo Federation of Community.
Earlier, the group sent a manifesto to the members of the legislative body asking to recall Pesina and the composition of the committee on urban poor, human rights and minority group.
The three organizations under the Iloilo City Urban Poor Network lambasted Pesina for his inaction over the requests of the group regarding the different housing projects for the city's urban poor. "It is only a miscommunication," said Treñas.
The mayor has requested Pesina to also attend today's meeting. However, Pesina declined as he has to attend several hearings at the Iloilo Hall of Justice.